Doug Cartland's Four Minute Newsletter
Doug Cartland, Inc.10/05/2010
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I need to talk with George Mitchell and I need to do it soon...

I was in Dallas a couple of months ago training a team of managers.  One of them, Eugene, was born and raised in Ireland.  I think he said he moved to the United States around the year 2000.  He lives in Ohio now.

We were on a short ten-minute break, sitting chatting, when Eugene said to me:  "You know who is a great hero in Ireland?"

I had no idea. "Who?" I said.

"George Mitchell," he answered.

And I thought, really?  George Mitchell?  The senator from some state over there...you know...out east?  My scrunched up face foreshadowed my thoughts I suppose and I said, "Really?"

"Well, Bill Clinton to a degree, but especially George Mitchell."

I asked the obvious question...well obvious to me anyway: "Why?"

Eugene explained to me how Clinton had sent Mitchell to help broker peace in Northern Ireland back in the mid 90s.  He helped get Protestants and Catholics talking and facilitated the ultimately successful peace negotiations between the two.  There is peace now in Northern Ireland, differences settled by politics rather than by killing.

"Wow...after decades of war, terrorism and bloodshed," I responded shortsightedly.

"Decades?"  he came back quickly.  "Try centuries!"

I thought about that for a moment.  And I've been thinking about it ever since.  Was I not paying close enough attention in the 1990s?  Or did I just forget?

I know nothing of George Mitchell's politics and I don't care to know.  So please don't knee jerk me from your computer because of some political postulation you might have.

I simply can't imagine a greater legacy for a human being, particularly a leader. There were centuries upon centuries of failed attempts, of bloodshed, agony, fear, hatred, mistrust, bigotry, astonishing suffering and gruesome sorrow...and now...

...peace.

To bring people together to accomplish something positive for the common good is the singular purpose of leadership...business, political or social...it makes no difference.

And he did just that.  Well, the Irish did it.  And there was an international commission and there was Bill Clinton.  But George Mitchell was the one who rolled up his sleeves, got in the muck and led it.

If I were George Mitchell, I would not need to do anything else and I would die a very happy man.  Have we forgotten about this?  Has anyone written the book?  It would be an important one don't you think?  A blue print, maybe, for every malcontented corner of the globe.

So I'm looking for George Mitchell.  I need to shake his hand.  I want to pummel him with questions.

I will find and talk with George Mitchell.

Blessed are the peacemakers, indeed.
Till next week...

I'd love to hear from you. Reply to this email and let me know your thoughts.

Doug

Doug Cartland, President
Doug Cartland, Inc.

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